Boys’ Water Polo: Costa Mesa turns it around

Shardad Djahangiry is in his sixth year as head coach of the Yorba Linda High boys’ water polo team, while Cody and Dustin Serrano have been coaching at their alma mater of Costa Mesa High for three years now.

The coaches know each other, and recently the teams have played a nonleague game early in the season. Until Tuesday, Yorba Linda always had the upper hand.

That changed in a big way. Sophomore left-hander Caedmon Fisher scored five goals as Costa Mesa dominated this contest at its home pool, 15-7. And Djahangiry definitely heard the loud cheering from the Costa Mesa players after the game, just after they went into their team room.

“They played hard, so hat’s off to them,” Djahangiry said. “I think that game just meant a lot more to them than we were ready for.”

The result was pleasant, but not necessarily surprising to the Serrano twins. Costa Mesa (1-1) was motivated to win its first game after a tough 14-11 loss to Aliso Niguel in the season opener on Sept. 6.

“This has been the most dedicated team that Cody and I have seen at Costa Mesa High School, even [including] when we played,” said Dustin Serrano, who graduated from Costa Mesa in 2009. “These kids have grinded every day, and that showed in the pool. They’ve been really working hard for the last five weeks now.”

Mesa junior Augie Cunningham scored three goals, while seniors Jacob Petersen and Corbin Fisher, as well as junior Jake Fleener, had two each. Cunningham, Petersen and Corbin Fisher are tri-captains for Mesa this year.

Dustin Serrano said the defense against Yorba Linda (0-2), which also has the Mustang as a mascot, was much improved when compared to the Aliso Niguel loss. Fleener and Tony Shin serve as the Costa Mesa set guards, while sophomores Tristan Trepas (five saves) and Kevin Johnson (three saves) split halves in the goal.

Costa Mesa scored the first five goals of the game, two from Caedmon Fisher, before the visitors could get in the board early in the second quarter. Kai Kough scored on the power play for Yorba Linda.

But Costa Mesa got a goal from Caedmon Fisher, then Cunningham used a strong move at two meters to score. Senior Nick Ly added a counterattack goal, and Ly’s steal led to another breakaway opportunity for Cunningham. He put it away and Costa Mesa was rolling, up 9-1 late in the first half.

Sophomore Teak Zachary added an assist and a steal for Costa Mesa, which played aggressive defense that sometimes led to exclusions. Still, Costa Mesa managed to hold Yorba Linda to just three for nine in extra-player situations.

“We all came in feeling like we needed to win, because we have lost to them a couple of times in a row now,” Cunningham said. “The whole team was just on their game today and wanted to win. We had the ‘chip on your shoulder’ kind of deal ... and I think defense won us that game. We were communicating very well.”

Travis Pyne, a junior, led Yorba Linda with four goals scored. Goalie Jacob Walker made 10 saves.

Costa Mesa plays host to Brea Olinda in another nonleague game on Thursday.